Skincare Advice Approved by Dermatologists
/If you’re like me, you’ve heard tons of skincare advice from friends, tv, online, or even from the pages of your favorite magazines. The problem is that tips that work for some may not work for others and have been shunned by medical professionals for the harm they can potentially cause.
Allure recently compiled a list of their favorite skincare tips that have been medically approved! Take a peek and take some notes:
Period skin is real
Everyone’s skin suffers from periods when nothing is working. But masks balance skin quickly: Clays reduce oil, and gels calm redness.- Ellen Marmur
Kick dryness at night
If you wake up with dry skin, change your bedtime routine, not the morning one. It’s easier to head off dryness at night than to reverse it the next day.- Doris Day
Cleansing cloths shouldn’t be your first line of defense
Face wipes may be more convenient than old-school cleansers, but don’t rely on wipes to detox your skin if you live in a city where the pollution is high.- Zoe Draelos
Multi-mask
You don’t have to use one product on your entire face. Try glycolic acid on the T-zone to minimize breakouts and thick creams elsewhere.- Dendy Engelman
Take your time when applying products
When layering, let each product absorb for two to three minutes so it’s not counteracted or diluted by the next one you put on.- Neil Sadick
The sun is responsible for fine lines
Ninety percent of fine lines are caused by sun exposure, which makes sunscreen the ultimate ingredient for younger-looking skin. Use an SPF 30 or higher daily.- Doris Day
Consider a chemical peel
Weekly chemical peels help healthy bacteria grow. Gritty scrubs have the opposite effect, triggering collagen-destroying enzymes.- Whitney Bowe
Glycolic acid works, too
New to chemical peels? Try glycolic acid for normal skin, salicylic acid for oily and combination, and gently lactic acid for dry or sensitive skin.- Doris Day
Vitamin C is your friend
Use brighteners (we like vitamin C) within six months of seeing a dark spot. Melanin goes deeper into the skin over time, so it’s harder to reach.- Jessica Wu
Sweep up oil with a foaming face wash
If you’re breaking out along the hairline, it could be from the oil in your hair products. A foaming face wash cuts through the oil without being harsh.- Patricia Wexler
Self-care with a sheet mask
Sheet masks push hydrating ingredients into the skin. Put on over your moisturizer for 10 minutes at night, and your skin will be dewey the next day.- Doris Day
Be patient with retinol
Using retinol is a marathon not a sprint. It stimulates collagen but can irritate. Start using it once per week, over a moisturizer.- Joshua Zeichner
Acne products come in many formulas
Benzoyl peroxide kills P.acne bacteria; use it all over to prevent breakouts. A 2.5 or 5.5 percent formula works without flaky side effects.- William James
Blackheads hate salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is really only ideal for blackheads and whiteheads. If it dries you out, look for it in a face wash and let it sit on your skin for 30 seconds.- Joshua Zeichner
Integrate fatty acids into your routine
Your skin uses omega fatty acids to produce lipids (moisturizing oils) and studies show that omega-3 supplements improve skin’s lipid levels and hydration.- Jessica Wu
Apply sunscreen- everywhere
Don’t forget sunscreen on your ears, hairline, neck, hands, and chest. Dermatologists can look at your décolleté to see how old you are.- Ramella Hirsch
Pack an extra pillow for puffy eyes
If you wake up to puffy eyes, add an extra pillow under your head while you sleep- gravity drains enough fluid to help with next-day puffiness.- Joshua Zeichner
Peel pads are almost too easy not to use
Glycolic acid treats lines and dark spots. It’s most effective in individually wrapped peel pads (the pH of glycolic acid can change when it’s exposed to air).- Jessica Wu
Don’t towel off
If your skin is ashy, make one easy change: Don’t dry it completely before moisturizing. Creams seal in hydration and work best with a little water.- Ranella Hirsch
Swap out your sunscreen
Dryness, redness, and tight skin are signs that you may need to switch to a higher SPF. Try a new sunscreen and see if the issues go away in a few days.- Neil Sadick
Fight hyperpigmentation during the day
Treat dark spots using antioxidants during the day. At night, apply topical retinoids to enhance cell turnover to shed pigment.- Joshua Zeichner
(Originally posted by Allure)
